Giant Fifth Third Burger served up at Whitecaps opener; 17 manage to eat the whole thing

Dave Raczkowski | The Grand Rapids PressCody Heyboer, 17, makes his way through the crowd after purchasing a Fifth Third Burger. Unlike some others at the park, he bought the burger to share with his friends during the 2009 West Michigan Whitecaps season opener Thursday at Fifth Third Ballpark.

COMSTOCK PARK -- The Fifth Third Burger: the meat, the myth, the ballpark superstar heavy hitter.

"It's intriguing," said Jim Saunders, 52, of Plainfield Township, as he snapped a cell phone picture Thursday of some guy he doesn't know devouring the 4,889-calorie colossus during the West Michigan Whitecaps home opener.

That guy, 44-year-old Bob Kinney, of Grand Rapids managed to polish off every last gooey gob of the mammoth sandwich to earn a T-shirt with nutritional information on the back.

Dozens of curious onlookers crowded around two burger challenge picnic tables at Fifth Third Ballpark to watch ambitious men feast on mounds of beef, chili, sour cream, nacho cheese and a bunch of other stuff buried between giant sesame seed buns. Others hauled the meal in a pizza box back to their seats for a family treat.

A team of six from Sweet Meat's Smokehouse handled the burger assembly duties like a well-oiled machine. One worker opened buns. Another slathered on the chili. Dozens of the beefy behemoths moved down the line until getting the finishing touch: four toothpicks.

The ballpark sold 107 Fifth Third Burgers, with 32 entering the competition and 17 answering the call by devouring the entire sandwich.

Burger champion hopefuls awaited their chance at gastronomic glory as contestants' gobbling pace slowed at the packed tables. Kinney politely used a fork as surrounding eyes stared at him and his food.

"You have to have a little bit of etiquette going here," he said, persevering with a brew at his side.

Does beer help?

"It can't hurt," he said.

One cast-iron stomach stood out among the rest. Steve Landis, 16, of Walker, refused to break concentration amid his pursuit of glory. He continued to cram a fistful into his face during the singing of the national anthem.

As the Kenowa Hills High School student neared the end, he ferociously forked up toppings to become the first Fifth Third Burger challenge winner.

"I wasn't quite sure. Should I be proud of him or not?" said his mom, 43-year-old Barb Landis.

His father, 45-year-old Dick Landis, insisted an empty stomach wasn't the key to his success. He said his son warmed up by eating a hearty breakfast and following that up with a trip to a Chinese buffet for lunch.